Head Start Program Support Specialist, Office of Grants Management

  • BCT Partners
  • Kansas City, MO
  • Jun 03, 2021
Full time Administrative Financial

Job Description

Program Support Specialists perform functions related to the award, oversight and programmatic administration of discretionary grants funded through the Health & Human Services Office of Grants Management (OGM).  These functions provide necessary support to the client’s staff in managing Head Start and Early Head Start grant programs.  They include the review and analysis of applications, reports and other documents; providing accurate and timely guidance to grantees; and conducting site visits.  Program Support Specialists also support Head Start grantees in improving their performance, which includes performing activities related to identifying and mitigating grantee risk factors, compliance issue corrections, and school readiness & program goal analyses.
 Position Summary:
These functions provide necessary support to the client’s staff in managing Head Start and Early Head Start grant programs. 

  • Ensures accurate and timely analysis and review of funding applications according to established timeframes and procedures.
  • Reviews and analyzes grantee program performance reports, information, and indicators; grantee waiver requests; and applications for facility construction, purchase and major renovation.
  • Provisions accurate and timely regulatory and policy guidance to Head Start grantees, in consultation with federal staff.
  • Participates in onsite monitoring visits, including follow ups and desk reviews.
  • Provides timely and accurate reports as needed or requested.
  • Ensures the maintenance of all official electronic grant files for new and continued grant awards.
  • Performs activities related to the identification and mitigation of grantee risk factors, correction of regulatory compliance issues, review and analysis of school readiness and programmatic goals; and improvement of Head Start grantee performance.


Perform other reasonable tasks as assigned by management in support of BCT’s goals and objectives.
 Experience, Knowledge, Skills & Abilities:
A successful candidate should have:

  • Bachelor’s Degree from an accredited university or college, preferably in education, early childhood education, program design and management or related fields; master’s degree a plus
  •  3+ years of relevant progressive professional experience supporting and/or managing programs; preferably early education programs, though Head Start and Early Head Start experience is not required; grants management experience also a plus.   
  • Demonstrated ability to aggregate, analyze and present data gathered from multiple sources. 
  • Knowledge of the federal grant guidelines and the Federal Grant Life Cycle are desired.
  • Strong organizational, administrative and project coordination skills, and the ability to effectively manage multiple priorities.   
  • Strong interpersonal skills, with the proven ability to collaborate and build relationships with staff, clients, remote colleagues and supervisors, and others. 
  • Proven ability to effectively communicate in writing and when speaking, exercise sound judgment, ask questions and be open to the input and decisions of others. 
  • Able to, both independently and collaboratively, solve problems, make decisions and support change.
  • Computer, Internet and general proficiency with Microsoft Outlook, Word, Excel and PowerPoint; demonstrated proficiency in utilizing a variety of web-based and off the shelf data management software packages.

BCT Partners’ mission is to provide insights about diverse people that lead to equity.
We are a national, multi-disciplinary consulting firm that delivers a full range of research, consulting, training, technology, and analytics services. BCT works with government agencies, corporations, nonprofit organizations, educational institutions and foundations, and is one of the leading firms in the country with expertise in the following markets: housing and community development, economic development, workforce development, children and families, health, education, and diversity, equity & inclusion.

We invite and welcome to our team people who share our values and goals; those with a passion for making the world a better place, who see strength in our diversity, seek equal opportunity for all communities and are motivated to create a more equitable and just society.  We appreciate the knowledge, abilities, and ideas of each individual and embrace his/her/their positive contributions to our collaborative and dynamic work environment.

Our Clients
The US Department of Health & Human Services, Office of Grants Management (OGM) directly administers, manages, provides financial stewardship, and technical guidance to more than 60 program and regional offices of the Administration for Children and Families (ACF) for discretionary, mandatory grants, and cooperative agreements; OGM also performs audit resolution.

Nationally, ACF is comprised of twelve regional offices responsible for awarding grants, monitoring performance, and providing technical assistance to nearly 1,600 Head Start grantees. These programs receive annual grant (refunding) awards and may receive supplemental awards. OGM/School Readiness Grants Management staff provide financial and policy guidance to Head Start grantees.


[1] Job descriptions serve to provide guidance and information regarding position responsibilities and job expectations.  BCT Partners reserves the right, where permitted by law, to modify position responsibilities, sometimes without notice or written updates to the job description documents.

 BCT Partners is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, military and or/ veteran status, or any other Federal or State legally protected class. BCT Partners will not discriminate against persons because of their disability, including disabled veterans, and will make reasonable accommodations for known physical or mental limitations of qualified employees and applicants with disabilities. If you are interested in applying and require special assistance or accommodations due to a disability, please contact our Human Resources department at careers@bctpartners.com. We appreciate the diversity of our communities and invite all who are interested to apply.

For more information regarding BCT Partners' commitment to equal employment opportunity and affirmative action please click here: www.bctpartners.com/eeoaa